July 2016

The Long, Hot Summer

If you'd like to be distracted from the tortures of Summer, i.e.: sun, sand, mosquitoes -- do find time for these great plays:

"Quietly" by Owen McCafferty at the newly refurbished Irish Rep was a huge hit in Edinburgh (shortlisted for my Award.) I guarantee it will be here, as well. Here's The Guardian review, which you may want to read before you run for tickets!

The marvelous Potomac Theatre Project is paying its annual visit to New York with two smart British plays -- " Good" by C.P. Taylor and "No End of Blame" by Howard Barker. "Good" concerns a man's gradual descent into evil during the Third Reich; "No End of Blame" is described as a morally ambiguous play about free speech. Don't they both sound delicious?

Tickets may be in short supply, but do what you must for tickets to "Golem," part of the Lincoln Center Festival. You may remember 1927's first piece, "Between the Devil and the Deep blue Sea", when it played in NY (my 2007 Award winner) and received a Drama Desk nomination. Here's the ecstatic Telegraph review of the Young Vic's production of "Golem."

Next to be rediscovered by the Mint is "A Day by the Sea" by N.C. Hunter, reputed to be an "English Chekhov." It will be directed by the multi-talented Austin Pendleton.

Also at Second Stage, will be "Layover" by Leslye Headland, whose "Bachlorette" was uproariously memorable.

"Butler", a Civil War period piece by Richard Strand, will be coming to 59e59. This New York Times review of its New Jersey world premiere calls it, in a word, "splendid."

If you missed "Small Mouth Sounds" when it ran at Ars Nova last year -- don't allow this short reprise to pass you by. It's very few words are by Bess Wohl (it takes place at a silent retreat), masterfully directed by Rachel Chavkin -- it's a joy!

I hope I've suggested enough to fill your Summer's dance card. If not, please visit the Festival Fringe in August -- I'll have many more for you. Just email -- I'd love to see you there!

Speaking of Theater is a monthly newsletter written by Carol Tambor. Her only objective is to connect New York audiences with excellent Off-Broadway productions, with no commercial interest in any of the shows she recommends.

Carol Tambor is a portrait artist and long-time lover of theater. To see her paintings, please click here. She established the Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation in 2004 and began publishing this newsletter in 2009.

The Best of Edinburgh is an award given at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is the largest arts festival in the world. The winner of the Award receives a 4 week, all-expense paid run in New York.

If you'd like to keep up your end of the conversation -- please email me at carol@bestofedinburgh.org with tips about fabulous theater you've seen. There's too much for me to catch everything---- I need my sources!